Lubrication safety device



April 20, 1954 I KYLE 2,676,315

LUBRICATION SAFETY DEVICE Filed Dec. 51, 1949 3'14) W04; JOSEPH H. KYLE Patented Apr. 20, 1954 2,676,315 LUBRICATION SAFETY DEVICE Joseph H. Kyle,

strong Cork Lancaster, Company,

poration of Pennsylvani Pa., assignor to Arm- Lancaster, Pa., a cora Application December 31, 1949, Serial N 0. 136,333

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a lubrication safety device and is directed more particularly to a safety device for use in combination with lubricators which are effective for supplying metered quantities of lubricant at predetermined intervals. This type of lubricator is commonly employed on machines and is effective for supplying lubricant to the various moving parts requiring the same under pressure and at regular intervals. The pressure is at its maximum during the delivery stroke and gradually diminishes during the intervals between such strokes to a lowerpressure and, in some instances, to zero, thus making it impractical to utilize a conventional pressure switch which would stop the machine whenever the pressure drops below a predetermined safe minimum. It is sometimes desirable to apply lubricant prior to starting the machine, and for that purpose lubricators of the.

type referred to are generally provided with a hand pump which may be actuated to supply the lubricant under pressure to the moving parts before the machine is started. With lubricating systems of this type, it is not always possible to detect faulty operation of the pump or a break in the feed lines which convey the lubricant from the pump to the parts to be lubricated. carelessness may also result in an inadequate supply of lubricant to the pump. As a result, expensive machines aredamaged through lack of lubrication or insufficient lubrication which has not been promptly detected.

It is an object of this invention to provide a safety device which will be effective for preventing operation of a bricant in the event the pump should fail, a feed line break, the supply of lubricant to the pump be exhausted, or other accident occur which reduces the pressure of the lubricant in the feed lines at the bricant pump and results in improper lubrication or the absence of lubricant. u

Another object of my invention is to provide a safety device for use with lubrication systems of the intermittent feed type which will prevent operation of the machine to be lubricated prior to the establishment of a proper supply of lubricant under pressure to the parts to be lubricated.

Generally stated, the device includes a pressure switch located on the lubrication feed line,

which switch is actuated upon the reduction of the pressure in the feed line toa predetermined low point, and electrical means for stopping the machine in the event the switch is closed.

machine supplied with ludelivery stroke of the lil- The invention will be described in conjunction with the attached drawing in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view illustrating an embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a diagrammatical view of the electrical circuit for carrying out the invention.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a lubricant reservoir 2 which has mounted thereon a pump 3. The pump has anoperating shaft 4 upon which is mounted a pul1ey5 which may be connected by a belt (not shown) to a pulley on the machine to be lubricated, or the pump 3 may be driven by a separate motor. The pump 3 may be a standard Bijur cyclic pump and, as a typical example, may be adjusted to deliver 2 cubic centimeters of lubricant on each stroke, and may be set so as to deliver such quantity once every 1% minutes. The particular cycle of the pump and the quantity of lubricant supplied will vary depending upon the requirements of the machine to be lubricated. The structure of the pump is not important and may be a cam-actuated piston typepump such as the Bijur cyclic pump mentioned above. Other types of pumps which supply lubricant intermittently may be substituted.

The discharge of the pump is through a feed line 6 which conveys the lubricant to the part or parts of the machine to be lubricated. Lo-,

cated on the feed line 6 is a pressure switch 1 which is actuated by the pressure of the lubricant in the feed line 6. For convenience of illustration, this pressure switch is shown immediately above the pump 3. However, it will be understood that the pressure switch 1 may .be located at any point along the feed line 6. The pressure switch 1 is adjustable and, in the typical example, may be adjusted so that it will be actuated when the pressure of the lubricant in line 6 drops below five pounds per square inch.

Figure 2 is an electrical circuit diagram for the operating and control system for stopping the machine in the event of a failure of the pressure in the lubricating line for a prolonged period. In the embodiment illustrated the machine is controlled by a clutch (not shown) which is actuated pneumatically through a pneumatic solenoid valve 8., which upon energization opens the line for the supply of air which actuates the clutch mechanism, and the press is brought into operation. Lie-energization of the solenoid valve 8 causes the clutch to be disengaged, and the machine stopsr In normal operation of the machine, a start,

button 9 of a magnetic switch is pressed inwardly making contact across contact points l9 and II. This completes the primary circuit from the main current source and conductors I2 and |3. The circuit is from conductor |3 through conductor [4, a stop control switch l5, contact points l and H, and conductor Hi to the one side of a relay l1. Relay I1 is-also connected to the armature l8 of relay H by a lead 21. The other side of the relay I1 is connected to the conductor l2 by lead l9, armature of a control relay 2|, and a lead 22 when relay 2| is in its normally de-energized position as shown in Figure 2. Thus with relay 2| in its normally open position and switch 9- closed, the circuit for relay U will be completed; and armature |8 of relay I? will be brought into engagement with contact points 23, 24, and 25.

Contact point 23 is connected by a lead 26 to conductor l4, and this completes the circuit for relay l1 through the lead 26, armature l8, and lead 21, thereby by-passing magnetic switch 9 which may immediately assume its normal open position as shown in Figure 2.

Contact point 24 is connected by lead 28 to the oneside of the solenoid. valve 8. The other side of the solenoidvalve 8 is connected directly to the conductor l2. When relay I1 is closed, the circuit for solenoid valve 8- is completed, and thus the valve 8' is energized and open during normal operation of the machine.

Contact point is connected to one side of a time delay relay 29. This time delay relay is preferably set for three minutes so as to lift its armature after energization. This relay is controlled by pressure switch 1-. Upon failure of the lubrication system causing a pressure drop on the lubricant in the system, the pressure switch I which is held open by the pressure in the lubricant line will automatically close. This should preferably be set-to occur at fivepounds pressure per square inch. That isto say that in the event the pressure in the line drops to five pounds per square inch, the pressure switch I will automatically close and will remain closed until a pressure of five pounds or more is attained in the fee line; The closing of. pressure switch 2" completes the circuit for time delay relay 29' from line l2 through lead 30', switch 1'', and lead 3|. When thus-energized, time delay relay will liftits armature 32 at the end of its three-minute-delay cycle. Whenarmature 32 is brought into engagement with contact point 33 by reason of failure of pres sure in the fuel line, the circuit for control relay 2| is completed from line l3 through lead 34, armature 32, and a lead 35 connected to one side of relay 2|. The other side of relay 2| is connected by lead 22 to line l2 as previously described. When relay 2| is energized, the circuit for control relay I1 is opened. This breaks contact points 23, 24, and 25; time delay relay 29' is de-energized; andsolenoid valve 3 is de-energized and automatically closes. the clutch and arrests rotation of the machine.

Relay 2| is a double armature relay; and explained earlier, it is normally open so that the armature 2|! closes the circuit to the one side of relay l1. Upon closing of the relay 2| the armature 20- engages a contact point 36 closing the circuit from conductor |3 through conductor M; the back contacts 31 and 38 of start button 9, lead 39, armature 20', contact point 35, and lead 40 to the same side of relay 2| as is connected to lead 35 from the armature" 32 of time delay relay 29-. This circuit interlocks control relay 2| and This disengages holds the same in closed position after main relay l1 and time delay relay 29 have been de-energized.

A signal light to relay 2| by means of results in the stopping of the machine, the same can be restarted by pressing start button 9 which breaks the interlock on relay 2| by reason of breaking the circuit across back contact points 31 and 38' of start button 9. The breaking of the interlock de-energizes control relay 2| allow-v ing the same-to open, thereby closing. the. circuit to main start relay through armature. 29:. The circuit to the other side of relay [1' is closed. by the start button making contact. across: pointsliland H. However, if: the failure has not been corrected, pressure switch 1 remains closed and; the electrical circuit for time: delay relay 2.91s

completed, causing the same toimmediaitely start;

its delay cycle; This will allow the machine'to run three minutes at which time it will again. stop. However, if the: pressure has been: in creased to a point aboveiive pounds per square inch during such three-minuteperi'od, the: pressure switch I will open and the circuit for the time delay relay will be openand continued operation of the machinewill be possible;

With high speed production machines, it is not desirable to have a downperiod of three minutes because of lost production; In most instances- I minor difficulties withthe" lubrication system due to failure to keep the supply tank full, minor obstruction in the feed line, or the like can be immediately corrected and the machine may be run continuously without harm. For that reason, it is preferred to have the control arrange ment which permits the operator to run the machine for a short period after he has been informed of the presence of difficulty dilate-failureof the lubricationsystem.

Positioned on thelubricant reservoir 2' is a hand pump 43 which is adapted to pump lul'rricant into the feed line 6 in the same manner as the pump 3 supplies lubricant to the feed line 6. This hand pump 43 is essential if the pump 3 is driven by the machine itself inasmuch as it is used to pump lubricant into the line 6 after re--- pairs have been made or when the machine is first put in operation after a shutdown. Thisis necessary since the time delay relay 29 will stop the machine after it has run its three-minute cycle if the pressure in the lubricating' line hasnot been increased over five" pounds per square inch in that period of time.

In order to maintain an adequate supply of lubricant in the reservoir 2, an'access'opening 44' is provided enclosed-by acover' 45, and the supply of lubricant from the reservoir 2 may be replenished as needed throughthis opening. A glass gauge 46 may be provided in the reservoir Z'for a visual indication of the quantity of .oil therein. These are conventional and are standard equip:- ment on the Bijur cyclic pump.

In the operation of they device, assuming that the machine to be lubricated is idle, the hand pump 43 will be actuated and lubricant wilibe supplied under pressure through the feed line 6 to the parts to be lubricated. When sufficient lubricant has been supplied to the feed line 6 to build up a pressure of five pounds per square inch or greater, the pressure switch 7 will be opened by the pressure of the lubricant acting thereon and the circuit through the time delay relay 29 will be broken. At this time the machine can be started by pushing main start switch 3 which closes the circuit through conductor H, switch 9, lead It, to relay ll. fhe other side of relay I1 is connected by means of lead l9, armature 20, and lead 22 to the other side of the line. This closes the circuit and energizes relay ll. Immediately upon energization of relay ll, the relay closes and the armature l8 thereof engages contact points 23, 24, and 25. Contact point 23 is connected by means of lead 26 to the conductor M which closes the circuit around switch 9, permitting the relay H to be energized even though button 55 springs back to its original position, breaking the contact between points I 0 and H. Contact point 24 closes the circuit through lead 28 to solenoid valve 8 which actuates the clutch and allows the machine to operate. Contact point 25 is connected to one side of the solenoid 29. of the time delay relay.

Pressure switch 7 which is set at five pounds per square inch will remain open until the pressure drops to five pounds or lower, at which time it closes, closing the electrical circuit through time delay relay 29 allowing the same to start its three-minute cycle. If the pressure is built up to five pounds or greater before the expiration of the three-minute cycle, the pressure switch 1 opens and the relay 29 is de-energized allowing the machine to continue its operation. However, if the pressure does not build up before the expiration of the three-minute cycle, the relay 29 closes causing armature 32 to engage contact point 33 closing the circuit to one side of relay 2|. The other side of relay 2| is connected to conductor l2 by means of lead [9. Therefore, the closing of relay 29 energizes relay 2!, closing the same and thereby breaking the circuit through relay H, which causes relay 17 to open, breaking contacts 23, 24, and 25. Energization of relay 2| closes the circuit through signal light 4|, and the same is lighted indicating to the operator that the machine has stopped due to a lubrication failure. Since the relay 2i is an interlocking relay, the same remains energized and the signal light remains lighted until the interlock is broken. Breaking the contact 24 de-energizes solenoid 8 which disengages the clutch, and the breaking of contact 25 de-energizes the time delay relay 29. Upon stopping, the machine can be restarted by pressing the button 9 which breaks the interlock on relay 2| and closes the circuit through relay ll. However, if the defect has not been corrected, pressure switch 1 will remain closed and the circuit through the time delay relay ing the time delay relay to start another threeminute cycle. At the end of three minutes the 29 is closed, causmachine will again stop unless the pressure in the lubricating line has risen to the point where it will open pressure switch l in which event the machine will continue to operate.

From the foregoing it will be clear that by this arrangement it is possible to prevent the continuous operation of a machine lubricated by periodical deliveries of lubricant should the pressure within the feed lines at the delivery stroke of the pump fall below a desired minimum adequate to maintain proper lubrication of the machine; and in starting, pressure of the lubricant in the feed lines must be established before continuous operation of the machine is possible.

I claim:

1. A safety device for detecting failure in an intermittent lubricating system, the elements comprising a pressure switch responsive to a predetermined drop in the pressure in the lubrication feed line, a time delay relay which is energized upon the closing of the pressure switch, a main relay which is closed during the normal operation of the device, a control relay to be energized upon the closing of said time delay relay, said control relay upon energization breaking the circuit through the main relay, a signal energized upon the energization of said control relay, an interlock on said control relay to hold the same closed upon energization, and common means for breaking the interlock on said control relay and rte-energizing said main relay.

2. In a safety device for detecting failure in an intermittent lubricating system, the elements comprising a pressure switch responsive to a predetermined drop in pressure in the lubrication feed line, a time delay relay energized by the closing of the pressure switch, a control relay energized by the closing of said time delay relay, an interlock on said control relay to hold the same closed upon energization, and means for breaking the interlock on said control relay.

3. A safety device for detecting failure in an intermittent lubricating system, the elements comprising a pressure switch responsive to a predetermined drop in pressure in the lubrication feed line, a time delay relay which is @by the closing of the pressure switch, a main relay which is closed during the normal operation of the device, a solenoid valve energized by said main relay, a control relay energized by the closing of said time delay relay, said control relay upon energization breaking the circuit through the main relay, an interlock on said control relay to hold the same closed upon en ergization, and common means for breaking the interlock on said control relay and re-energizing said main relay.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 960,569 Moon June 7, 1910 1,144,101 Bradbury June 22, 1915 2,339,532 Venable Jan. 18, 1944 2,399,171 Davis Apr. 30, 1946 

